Tree Surgeons Stirling

People in Stirling who try to do tree work by themselves, or by using unqualified individuals could cause a risk of damage to the trees, to property and to life. However, tree work isn't altogether safe for professional tree surgeons, who are acquainted with all the hazards involved. The reality is tree surgery is among the most hazardous jobs in the UK, with an average of 3 deaths and 140 severe injuries each year within the industry, hence it's certainly not safe work for amateurs.

With falling trees and branches causing around 5 deaths each year in Britain, a danger to life can even be caused by a poorly maintained or damaged tree. If you bring in somebody to do tree work and subsequently property is damaged, or an injury occurs, you may be liable to third-party compensation claims. This is why it is important to retain the services of a skilled tree surgeon to carry out the work on your trees in Stirling. (Figures sourced from HSE UK).

There are two main professional industry bodies, at least one of which a competent tree surgeon in Stirling should be an approved member of. The websites of both the AA (Arboricultural Association) and the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) allow you to check out the membership and professional standing of any tree surgeon in Stirling. On this website you can check for membership of either of these associations, which gives the tree surgeon in question, recognised Approved ARB Contractor status.

You'll be able to get hold of these trade organisations for mediation assistance and for help and guidance at any point, if there is a problem during or after any tree work has been finished.

If anybody offers you a quotation for any tree work and they're not on this directory list, you should respectfully decline their offer of work and continue your search for an approved tree surgeon. It is a good idea to get at least 3 estimates from different companies in and around Stirling, once you've diligently checked their professional qualifications and associations. You should ask the questions below while acquiring the quotations, making it abundantly clear that you need to know the answers due to the risks involved in the work:

• Would I be able to to contact somebody you've recently done work for, so that I can check your work? It's generally advisable to carry out an independent examination of recently accomplished work.
• Can you provide documents to indicate that you have the proper qualifications, membership of the AA or ISA, and also a certificate for basic chainsaw use from the NPTC? The NPTC/LANTRA certificate is required by law for any tree surgeon/operative using a chainsaw. A skilled tree surgeon in Stirling could hold City & Guilds Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture.
• Can you provide a quotation in writing? Always try to get a quote in writing, and NEVER accept a quote that's only given verbally.
• How much insurance cover is provided? You should not even consider a tree surgeon in Stirling with any less than five million pounds public liability insurance as recommended by the ISA and AA.

Easy to understand specifics of all the tree work that is being undertaken must be included on the written quotation. Who's responsible for the removal of waste, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should information on any trees which might be protected, and the steps needed to get permission to work on them. Unless you're a commercial business, you should also make certain that VAT is included on the quotation. It is vitally important that only competent people are hired to work on your property and trees, and this is entirely down to you. This is laid out by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities and sometimes liabilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Making enquiries into the possibility of any trees being protected, your chosen Stirling tree surgeon should make certain that any work can get the go-ahead from the relevant local authority department. Finding a tree has got protected status does not mean that work can't be carried out, because even protected trees need to be maintained in order to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public.

If your property in Stirling happens to be within a conservation area, the Local Planning Authority will require no less than six weeks written notice of any tree work you're intending to do. However, tree trunks of under 75mm in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres from the ground are free from this requirement. Notice is also not a requirement if pruning or thinning of a protected tree's branches is needed in order to sustain and encourage growth.

Your Stirling tree surgeon will decide on the required remedial treatment and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner after completing a thorough assessment of your trees health. This involves carrying out a risk assessment to include public areas, your property and any section of a neighbour's property that could be impacted by falling debris. The amount of workforce required and the level of protection needed, will also be ascertained at this stage. To keep the public and other property safe from harm or damage, this will include both PPE and other safety precautions.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Before any climbing, tree felling or cutting of branches is started, safety measures and barriers should be put in place to keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the work area. It might at some stage be necessary to stop the traffic temporarily, if there's any danger of debris and branches falling onto the road.

The tree surgeon will need varying degrees of protection depending on the type of work being performed. At the very least when doing work with a chainsaw they will be wearing special protective clothing to avoid injuring the torso, legs and hands. Without exception, every worker involved in the operation should wear high visibility clothing, and head and eye protection.

Additional personnel will normally be required to help with the removal of high branches and sections of tree trunk, particularly if working at height is involved, and where ladders and associated climbing equipment is being deployed. For removing waste materials, access to the work site will be needed. Therefore, it's a good idea to inform your next door neighbours, as a skip or pick up truck will need to be stationed as close as possible to the work area while work proceeds.

AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - Upon completion of all the tree work, the whole area can be cleared of any debris, and all the waste can be taken away. Your tree surgeon should then put together and sign off a certificate of work, a copy of which will be presented to you. This is especially important where protected trees are concerned. Footpaths and highways can then be re-opened, with any safety measures in public spaces being taken away.

Problems or issues should be put right straight away by approaching your tree surgeon directly. If there's any further dispute or arbitration needed, and your tree surgeon is a member of a trade body, you can get help and advice from the ISA or AA in order to reach an acceptable solution.

Leylandii Hedge Removal

The Leylandii hedge is a commonly chosen option for Stirling householders who desire both quick growth and privacy. Despite their benefits, they can quickly become unwieldy and require significant maintenance. If you intend to remove a Leylandii hedge, it's important to keep in mind a few key considerations. First, it's important to ensure that the hedge isn't protected by a Tree Preservation Order or other legal designation. In such cases, you must seek approval from the local council before removing the hedge. Also, Leylandii hedges can have intricate root structures, stressing the need to engage a certified tree surgeon to safely remove the hedge and its roots. Finally, once the hedge is removed, you'll need to dispose of the waste responsibly. To conclude, the removal of a Leylandii hedge can be a hazardous and laborious task, requiring the observance of necessary safety measures and the potential solicitation of professional intervention.

Wood Chipping Stirling

So as to process the large quantities of vegetation, tree limbs and branches that are generated by their work, the majority of Stirling tree surgeons will make use of wood chipping devices. These awesome wood chipping systems can gobble up as much as 40 tonnes of material every hour, depending on the equipment being used, although the smaller, more frequently used devices will process approximately five tons every hour.

Chopping down the tree limbs in this way makes them a good deal easier to transport and also produces a valuable material that can be used for a range of purposes for example, landscaping, biomass fuel, wood pulp, mulch, cultivating mushrooms, weed prevention, ecosystem restoration and garden pathways.

Most tree surgeons in Stirling will be delighted to let you have the wood chips that have been produced during the tree work, if you have a good use that you want to put them to, otherwise they'll generally take them away to use on other projects. Even if you don't require any tree surgery doing on a property in Stirling, tree surgeons are a good source for wood chips which you can use for various purposes throughout your garden. Wood chips are often available from tree surgeons free of charge, although if you need them to be delivered there might be a modest fee.

Forest Master, Timberwolf, Hyundai and Forst, are among the most popular makes of wood chipping equipment. (Tags: Wood Chipping Stirling, Wood Chips Stirling, Wood Chipping Equipment Stirling, Wood Chipping Services Stirling).

Skills and Knowledge Needed to be a Tree Surgeon in Stirling

• Be professional and able to complete tasks within a specified period.
• To be able to carry out common tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
• Be mindful of the complexities and dangers involved with the various areas of tree work.
• To be thorough and pay attention to detail.
• Have a good understanding of public safety measures.
• Physical skills such as movement and co-ordination.
• The ability to work happily with others.
• Be capable of repairing, using and maintaining tools and machines.
• Be patient and have the ability to remain calm in times of stress.
• Be able to work with your hands.
• Have good customer service skills.

Tree Removal Stirling

Trees are normally beneficial, thus tree removal should actually be the final resort. However, there naturally are genuine reasons behind tree removal on your garden or property in Stirling. Among the commonplace factors behind needing to remove a tree are if: the tree has been uprooted by storms, the tree is infected/diseased, the roots are obstructing foundations/retaining walls, you've got a dying/dead tree, the tree is hampering a new development, your tree is a hazard to safety or the tree is just too large for its surroundings. (Tags: Removing Trees Stirling, Tree Removal Stirling, Tree Felling Stirling)

Dutch Elm Disease

Not quite the problem now that it was at one time, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) has wiped out millions of precious elm trees all over Great Britain over the last five decades or so. Spread by the elm bark beetle and caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, Dutch Elm Disease was accidentally introduced into the United Kingdom from Canada in the nineteen sixties.

After arriving, it spread quickly through the transportation of elm products such as elm crates, mulching bark, saplings, and firewood logs with the bark on. Dutch Elm Disease didn't only affect the UK, but also decimated stocks of elms in continental Europe, North America and New Zealand, it is thought to have originated from Asia (probably Japan).

The first symptoms of DED are:

• Shoots that die back from the tip.
• Clusters of leaves turning yellow and wilting.
• Dark streaks underneath the bark of twigs.
• A "shepherd's crook" effect on affected twigs.

It generally begins to show up in early summer.

The felling of infected, dead and dying trees, has essentially removed the beetle's habitat, and in recent times the spread of DED has been significantly slowed. New saplings have also been propagated from trees that up to now have proved resistant.

You could ask for a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service), or you can speak to your local tree surgeon for advice and guidance, if you happen to have elm trees on your property in Stirling, and have suspicions that they may be infected with Dutch Elm Disease.

Storm Damage Prevention Stirling

At first glance, trees seem strong, sturdy and able to withstand virtually anything Mother Nature can inflict on them. Certain tree varieties can continue to grow without any problem for several hundred years, in particular sweet chestnuts, oaks and yews.

Despite all this, trees can be susceptible to adverse weather conditions, and aside from the danger of falling tree limbs and branches, when confronted by certain conditions trees may also fall over completely, causing lots of damage. The primary danger to, and enemy of trees, is high winds, and with the increasing frequency of severe storms this type of damage is becoming more and more common in Stirling. Heavy snowfall during winter can also cause problems, as can saturated soil resulting from flooding or extended periods of rainfall.

To lessen the chance of issues with your trees in times of severe weather, it's recommended that you get a qualified Stirling tree surgeon to check them out once in a while, and prune any dead or overhanging branches.

Larger trees can also have lightning rods, copper conductors, or other lightning protection systems installed, to reduce the chances of them being struck by lightning and to prevent nearby property and buildings being affected by "arcs" or "jumps". A tree that's struck by lightning can be severely weakened or even killed, a weakened tree can be left susceptible to pests, decay or disease - not a happy situation! For those of you who reckon that lightning isn't all that common, there are about three hundred thousand lightning strikes in the UK every year.

Your local Stirling tree surgery firm will be able to offer advice and guidance on what can be done to safeguard your trees from storm damage, and lower the risk of accidents happening because of this. (Tags: Storm Damage Stirling, Storm Damaged Trees Stirling, Storm Damage Prevention Stirling).

Woodland Clearance Stirling

The clearance of woodlands in the Stirling area is a sensitive process that can have several regulations and restrictions. To make certain all pertinent permits are gathered, restrictions and land covenants are observed, and that all strategies for completing the clearance are ecologically sound, an established Stirling tree surgeon should be appointed to manage and complete the project.

A good tree surgeon will determine if there are any felling restrictions, special planning permissions or ecological constraints by conducting a full site survey and having discussions with local authorities. Mitigation strategies may need to be employed if there's protected tree or animal species on the site; this could require the relocation of wildlife such as lizards or bats, and the replanting of rare trees to a different protected site.

The expensive and specialist felling, chipping and mulching equipment used in woodland clearance means it's much more cost effective to hire a professional tree surgeon to undertake your project.

Hedge Cutting Stirling

While the maintenance and care of trees and shrubs is the main focus of Stirling tree surgeons, they are regularly required to look after hedges, for example height reduction and trimming. This is particularly useful if you have conifer hedges such as Leylandii which can quickly grow too high for most gardeners to deal with.

When hedges are neglected and poorly maintained, they can become overgrown and out of control pretty quickly. If a hedge is allowed to overwhelm large parts of your garden, it can be tough to fix down the road, therefore frequent clipping makes sense for both the aesthetic appeal and health of your hedge.

Tidy hedges help make your entire garden look neater, and may even add to the value of your home in Stirling, if you are planning to sell. You should also be able to get hedge cutting services in Cambus, Throsk, Kersemill, Cambusbarron, Causewayhead, Raploch, Cambuskenneth, Bannockburn, Touch, Fallin, Bridge of Allan, Whins of Milton, Cowie, St Ninians, Craigforth, and and of course Stirling.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 678.

Tree Surgery Tasks Stirling

Stirling tree surgeons will likely help with pollarding, formative pruning in Stirling, expert tree care, emergency tree surgery, repair of storm damaged trees Stirling, tree health monitoring, vegetation management, fruit tree pruning, tree felling, tree reduction in Stirling, hedge reduction, stump treatment, stump grinding, hedge lowering, crown cleaning, conrolling pests in Stirling, woodland clearance, crown raising, dead wooding, tree surveys, tree planning, tree planting, tree management in Stirling, cut sealing in Stirling, root removal Stirling, commercial tree care Stirling, safety inspections in Stirling, retrenchment pruning, root flare exposure, tree transplanting, shrub maintenance, tree work, woodland management, root decompaction, landscape clearance in Stirling and other tree surgeon services in Stirling, Scotland. These are just a handful of the tasks that are accomplished by tree surgeons. Stirling specialists will let you know their entire range of services.

Tree Surgeons Near Stirling: Also find: Bridge of Allan tree surgeons, Cambuskenneth tree surgeons, Cambus tree surgeons, St Ninians tree surgeons, Whins of Milton tree surgeons, Craigforth tree surgeons, Cowie tree surgeons, Kersemill tree surgeons, Touch tree surgeons, Throsk tree surgeons, Fallin tree surgeons, Cambusbarron tree surgeons, Causewayhead tree surgeons, Raploch tree surgeons, Bannockburn tree surgery and more. Most of these villages and towns are covered by local tree surgeons. Stirling home and property owners can get tree surgery quotes by going here.

(Sourced from tree surgeons Stirling text version four.)

Tree Management Stirling - Stump Grinding Stirling - Arboriculturalist Stirling - Tree Care Stirling - Tree Surgeon Stirling - Crown Lifting Stirling - Forest Management Stirling - Vegetation Management Stirling Scotland - Tree Surgery Stirling